Spring in the Hall of Paintings

Rongda’s only legitimate son, Cheng Yin, was the youngest child in the Tong family. The eldest wife, Jueluo, had already given birth to her daughter, who was married, but it wasn’t until nearly twenty years later, in the 30th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, when she was forty years old, that she gave birth to her precious son, Cheng Yin., who was like a little treasure to her. During this time, she had taken many tonics and visited numerous temples. Although Rongda would not abandon Jueluo for not having a son, and his concubines were all very obedient, having no son still weighed heavily on Jueluo’s heart. Since the birth of Cheng Yin, Jueluo treated him like a phoenix egg. The Old Madam also liked Cheng Yin very much, but she couldn’t stand seeing Jueluo spoil him. The legitimate heir of the first branch would one day inherit the family head position, so the Old Madam, citing loneliness as an excuse, took the initiative to bring Cheng Yin to live with her.

The First Madam, though reluctant to part with her beloved son, was well aware of the Old Madam’s intentions, as she was both her aunt and mother-in-law. The Old Madam had raised three outstanding sons herself. For Cheng Yin’s future, the First Madam could only tearfully send him to the Old Madam’s side. The Old Madam was not without understanding of human emotions. Although Cheng Yin lived with her, she never prevented the First Madam from visiting him, and they met frequently, maintaining a strong emotional bond, though they lived in different courtyards.

When the Tong family received the news of Rongxuan’s good fortune, though the Old Madam had issued a gag order, the servants couldn’t help but feel joy in their hearts. Their master’s rise was a source of pride for them. They quietly speculated that Rongxuan’s title was certain, but they wondered what rank the Kangxi Emperor, who was known for his generous treatment of loyal officials, would grant him—duke, marquis, earl, viscount, or baron? The noble titles were divided into three ranks within each category, and based on Rongxuan’s merits, it was likely that he would be granted a title above that of earl, which was considered a superior rank in the Qing Dynasty.

However, during this period of celebration, Cheng Yin suddenly developed a fever that wouldn’t subside, and small pimples appeared on his face, frightening the wet nurse and servants. They hurriedly informed the First Madam and the Old Madam, fearing that the child had developed smallpox. This news struck the First Madam like a bolt of lightning. She disregarded everything else and rushed straight to Cheng Yin’s quarters. Seeing her son lying on the bed with his small face flushed red, pimples clearly visible on his exposed skin, and his lips cracked and dry, unconscious, the First Madam cried out, holding him tightly, “Son, you’re going to kill your mother! If something happens to you, I… I’ll go with you.”

The usually calm and composed First Madam cried out as though her heart were being torn apart. The servants in the room hung their heads, tears in their eyes. If something happened to Cheng Yin, none of them would escape punishment. The First Madam, Jueluo, was in charge of the Tong family’s household affairs and was known for being fair and impartial, earning the loyalty of the servants. Everyone knew that Cheng Yin was her lifeblood. If the legitimate heir of the first branch were to die, with Rongxuan’s rise, it was unclear whether the family head position would remain with the first branch.

“What good is holding him? Will crying help? Go find a doctor!” The Old Madam, holding Chen Mama’s hand, entered the room with calm and composure, though a hint of concern could be seen in her eyes. She had received the news while in the temple. The Old Madam was holding prayer beads in her hands, and her gaze swept across the room. The crying servants immediately quieted down, as if they had found their resolve. The First Madam, holding her son, her eyes swollen and red, called out, “Mother… Aunt… I can’t live without Cheng Yin.”

“Ridiculous words. Cheng Yin will be fine. Let go of him.” The Old Madam’s voice was steady, and she turned to give instructions, “Has a doctor been called?”

“Yes, Old Madam. The doctor has already been summoned.”

The Old Madam assessed the time—it was nearly midnight, and even if they called for a doctor, the arrival would not be quick. She looked at Cheng Yin and saw signs of smallpox, which made her anxious, though her face remained composed. She said to Chen Mama, “Notify the Duke’s residence and ask them if they can bring the Imperial Doctor here.”

“Yes… yes…” The First Madam suddenly snapped awake and said, “Go notify Mother and Father, have them call for the Imperial Doctor. Son, once the doctor arrives, your illness will be cured.”

“I will go personally,” Chen Mama, who was the Old Madam’s companion from her dowry, spoke up. She had connections and influence in the Duke’s residence. The First Madam suddenly turned to her wet nurse, Li Mama, and said, “Li Momo, you go too, beg Mother for help. Cheng Yin is my life.”

“Understood.” The two wet nurses from the Duke’s family left together. The Old Madam felt a glimmer of hope, though she knew well that her brother still held the Duke’s title. However, the family had become somewhat of a hollow shell. Still, the Old Madam held onto the possibility that it could be useful, and she calmly said, “If it doesn’t work, I’ll personally go to the palace and ask to see the Empress Dowager. I’ll sacrifice my face if necessary, but I won’t let anything happen to Cheng Yin.”

“Aunt, Aunt…” The First Madam, with her back straight and crying, seemed like nothing could defeat her, but now she wept in sorrow. The Old Madam gently placed her hand on the First Madam’s shoulder and softly spoke, “Xuan’er is a meritorious official. Do you think we are the only ones who received the news? There will always be people coming to help the Tong family.”

If something happened to the legitimate heir of the first branch, Lady Fucha, even though she was exhausted and concerned for Rongxuan, would still have to go and help. Furthermore, the First Madam, Jueluo, had always been on good terms with Lady Fucha. They rarely had disagreements, and Fucha respected Lady Jueluo greatly. As fellow women and senior wives, they understood the importance of children. A wife’s son was her future, and Fucha would certainly weep if something happened to her own son, Cheng Wu.

Yun Wei often accompanied the Old Madam and was familiar with Cheng Yin, who was smart and sensible. Although he had some spoiled young master traits, he always liked to pull on Yun Wei’s sleeve and sweetly call, “Sixth Sister, tell me a story,” or “Sixth Sister, teach me to read.”

Now, seeing Cheng Yin unconscious, Yun Wei’s eyes reddened with tears. She blamed herself for reading so many books but not being able to think of any solutions. The well-lit courtyard of the first branch, which was full of unrest, seemed to come alive with Yun Lan’s arrival. Guo Luoluo hurried to the side of Jueluo, crying uncontrollably, “How could this happen… How could Cheng Yin, the eldest nephew, fall into such a condition at this time?”

Lady Fucha, who had been comforting Lady Jueluo, suddenly felt a twitch in her eyelid. She glanced at Lady Guo Luoluo and said, “Third Sister-in-law, does it matter when smallpox appears? Besides, we still haven’t determined if Cheng Yin has smallpox.”

“I… I’m just worried about Cheng Yin… Second Sister-in-law, you misunderstood.”

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding, Third Sister-in-law knows in her heart. Cheng Yin is the legitimate heir of the first branch, and one day he will be the head of the Tong family. At this crucial moment, we, as sisters-in-law, should be united in helping the First Madam save Cheng Yin. Don’t you agree, Third Sister-in-law?”

Guo Luoluo’s hidden thoughts were exposed by Lady Fucha, which made her somewhat embarrassed, especially under the Old Madam’s cold gaze. Guo Luoluo quickly nodded, “Second Sister-in-law is right. I’ve already sent someone to inform my family.”

“Thank you, Third Sister-in-law.” Lady Jueluo nodded in acknowledgment and then patted Fucha’s arm, forcing a bitter smile as she said, “Second Sister-in-law, I know very well.”

Guo Luoluo felt increasingly awkward, while Yun Lan sighed inwardly. All she wanted was for the first branch to feel that the second branch was taking away all their good fortune and luck. The ancient saying, “Fortune and misfortune are intertwined,” was something the old generation truly believed. Watching Cheng Yin, who was still burning with fever, Yun Lan pitied him too, but she couldn’t forget her previous life. She instinctively felt distant from her closest family members. Moreover, Yun Lan was not like Yun Wei, who had a closer relationship with Cheng Yin, so she couldn’t feel the same sadness. Yun Lan had her own calculations. She had set her sights on Yinzhen, knowing that the lack of official status would make Yinzhen pity her more. This was her bargaining chip in vying for Yinzhen’s affection, and if used properly, she could even compete with the Consort of Yinzhen. But what if she could solve the smallpox issue?

During her years of living in ancient times, Yun Lan clearly understood that Emperor Kangxi would not allow a prince to divorce his wife. The emperor, who valued his reputation and face, would care about such matters. No one would willingly become a concubine. If Yun Lan did not love Yinzhen and feel sympathy for Emperor Yongzheng, she would not be willing to become a concubine either. After all, it would still be many years before Yinzhen became emperor. Yun Lan had considered that marrying Yinzhen would change history. There was never any record in historical texts of Emperor Yongzheng having a side consort with the Tong surname. Yun Lan was not entirely confident that Yinzhen could still inherit the throne in the dangerous and treacherous time of the “Battle of the Princes.” However, she always believed that, at the end of Kangxi’s reign, Yinzhen was the best candidate and only he could bring about a new era of prosperity. Moreover, with her own knowledge of history, she believed that she could help Yinzhen, ensuring the imperial throne would not be lost.

Even if Yun Lan couldn’t overthrow Yinzhen’s legitimate wife, Nala, during the upcoming selection, she had a relative who had contributed greatly by saving the emperor and the prince. The Tong family’s ancestors had also been meritorious subjects of the emperor. With her good reputation and the fact that Emperor Kangxi personally arranged her marriage, even if she entered the house as a secondary concubine, Nala wouldn’t dare to act too excessively. In the future, Yun Lan would have more leverage.

“Aunt, I have an idea that might save Cheng Yin.”

“What? Yun Lan, you mean you have a way?” Jueluo asked, excited, grabbing Yun Lan’s arm. “Tell me, what is it?”

“I have a way to make Cheng Yin’s fever subside.”

Yun Lan turned and ordered, “Go prepare strong liquor, the strongest you can find, and also prepare writing materials. Follow my instructions to gather the herbs.”

The Old Lady, watching Yun Lan’s confident demeanor, nodded and said, “Do as Miss Lan says.”

Yun Lan smiled confidently, her bright smile full of reassurance. Yun Wei looked on with envy, then proactively stepped forward, grinding the ink and handing the brush to Yun Lan. She trusted her and said, “You will definitely cure Cheng Yin.”

Yun Lan wrote the prescription on the paper, secretly feeling that this was one of the advantages of being a time traveler. This prescription had been taught to her by her mother. Yun Wei, watching carefully, recalled the medical books she had read and realized that she had never come across this particular prescription. She made a mental note to remember it, as it might be useful someday.

Lady Fucha smiled slightly. She understood why Yun Wei envied Yun Lan, which was quite normal. Lady Fucha never wanted Yun Wei to become a cold, emotionless person without feelings. Envy and jealousy were natural human emotions. The important thing was to learn from others’ strengths and not let jealousy cause despair or seek favor because of envy. It was essential to learn from Yun Lan’s good traits, which was what Yun Wei should do. After all, no one was perfect, and Yun Lan wouldn’t always shine brightly.

Once Yun Lan finished writing, she handed the prescription to the person next to her, still immersed in her own thoughts, not realizing she had handed it to Yun Wei. She instructed, “Go get the medicine quickly. If you’re late, I won’t forgive you.”

Then Yun Lan hurried to the bedside, removing Cheng Yin’s clothing and using the strong liquor to wipe his shoulders, heart, and back to quickly bring down the fever. Yun Wei was not hurt by Yun Lan’s disregard. What mattered now was saving Cheng Yin. She turned to the Old Lady and said, “Grandmother, these herbs are hard to find. I remember seeing them in your herb storage, and there’s one more…”

Yun Wei thought for a moment and continued, “Grandmother, it seems like we have it at our house. Looking at the prescription from Fourth Sister, if we don’t usually gather these herbs, it would be hard to find them.”

Yun Wei explained softly, and Yun Lan could only remember the prescription. As for the herbs, she wasn’t a medical expert in the modern world and had no idea about them. The doctor who arrived took the prescription but couldn’t confirm whether it would be effective. The Old Lady thought for a moment and said, “Go get the herbs and prepare the medicine. I believe in the Fourth Miss, and I also trust Miss Wei.”